Side frame



Dec. M, 1928. 1,694,577

D. s. BARROWS SIDE FRAME Filed Aug. 20, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 11, 1928.

D. s. aARRows S IDE' FRAME Filed Aug. 20,, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 abhor nu,

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SIDE FRAME.

Application filed August 20, 1927.

This invention relates to side frames for railway trucks, and more particularly to cast frames formed to provide room for an increased number of springs and constructed for correspondingly increased strength.

The principal object of my invention, generall considered, is the provision of side frames or railway car trucks in which the bolster guide columns at intermediate ortions thereof are formed with bolster limit stops extending toward each other a short distance but spaced apart sufficiently to facilitate the application of the bolster springs and, permit closer spacing thereof than if a complete bridge were provided between said columns, that portion of the tension member beneath the bolster opening being laterally widened and adapted for support ing an increased number of spring units.

An object of my invention is to provide a east side frame formed with a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns spacing intermediate portions of said members,-and bolster limit stops extending short distances toward each other from intermediate portions of said guide columns and formed as upper horizontal webs or flanges braced with respect to the bolster guide columns by depending triangular gussets.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a side frame for railway car trucks in which the tension member beneath the bolster opening is so widened that an increased number of spring units may be employed, said spring units, however, being closely spaced so that the overhang of the spring supporting portion of the tension member beyond the side webs thereof is relatively small, whereby ordinary bracket ribs or triangular gussets may be employed for the support thereof.

A. further object of my invention is the provision of a side frame for railway car trucks in'which the tension member beneath the bolster opening is widened to a considerable extent for supporting an increased number of spring units and comprises transversely spaced angular sections joined by a spring supporting web, the lower ends of said sections, however, being joined by a relatively wide center tie and the spring supporting web being reinforced by transverse ribs, the lower edges of which are arched and merge into the angular portions of the tension member.

Serial. No. 214,302.

A still further object of. my invention is to provide a. side frame with integral journal boxes at the ends thereof, the connection with said boxes being reinforced by a hollow bracket rib between the lower portion of the tension member and the inner sides of the boxes, said rib being formed by curving an intermediate portion ofthetensioi'l member web downwardly to the side of the journal box, said web being joined to the remaining web by side walls spaced apart a distance corresponding to the width of the brass lugs, the remaining portions of said tension member web on either side of said bracket rib being increased in thickness and width and continued to join the adjacent journal box at approximately the top thereof, the flanges of sand tension member being continued upwardly and sloped slightly inward to merge with the compression member of normal width, providing a section adjacent the journal box substantially trapezoidal in form.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Figure 1. is a partial side elevation of a side frame embodying my invention, a portion thereof being shown in vertical longitudinal section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4- is a horizontal sectional view on the line t l of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View on the line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-4) of Figure 1.

Figures 7 and 8 are fragmentary sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Figure 1, looking in the directions of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan of an end of a side frame with integral journal boxes embodying my invention.

Figure 10 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 10-10 of Figure as, looking in the direction of the arrows.

that some of the advantages of my invention may be secured using frames of other than cast construction. Said frame 1 comprises a compression member 2, a tension member 3, and bolster guide columns or strut portions 4 spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members and leaving a window or bolster opening 5 therebetween. The compression and tension members are, in the present embodiment, joined at their ends to a j aw-shaped portion 6, which is adapted to embrace and be connected with a journal box, not shown, as will be understood.

In order to protect the bolster springs from overloads and serve as limit stops for the bolster, the inner sides of the bolster guides 4 are provided with abutments or stop portions 7 formed as upper horizontal webs or flanges 8 braced with respect to the bolster guide columns by depending webs or gussets 9. By stopping the webs 8 short and not continuing the stop portions as a continuous bridge between the columns, the bolster springs may be spaced closer laterally with respect to each other, thereby avoiding widening the upper web 10 of the tension member beneath the window opening 5 to as great an extent as would be necessary with a bridge between the columns.

The tension member beneath the window opening 5 is formed with the upper web 10 laterally widened for receiving an increased number of spring units and the upper surface of said web may be provided with the usual squaring lugs 11. The tension member adjacent the ends thereof is generally U- shaped in cross section, as shown in Figure 7, and as it extends inwardly toward and be neath the bolster guide columns it is widened by flaring the side webs or flanges 12 thereof, apart. In order to avoid unnecessary weight of the tension member, the central portion of the lower or main web 13 thereof is omitted from approximately half way between the intersection with the compression member 2 and the adjacent bolster guide column 4. This omission of the central portion of the web 13 provides an aperture 14 in the lower portion of the tension member which is substantially continuous between the mid-portions of the triangular openings 15 defined by the bolster guide columns and the convergingportions of the tension and compression members except that beneath the central portion of the spring supporting web 10. the lower edges of the tension member sections are joined by a relatively wide web 16 and approximately directly beneath each bolster guide column transverse diagonally disposed angular webs 17 are provided between the transversely spaced sections of the tension member 3. The reinforcements 17 may be lightened, as illustrated, by the intermediate apertures 18 therethrough. In addition to the reinforcements 16 and 17, the spring supporting web 10 of the tension member is preferably reinforced by transversely disposed depending ribs 19, the lower edges of which are curved, as illustrated particularly in Figure 3, whereby said reinforcements serve as supporting and rigidifying arches between the transversely spaced angular portions of the tension member.

In the present embodiment of my invention all the beam members of the frame, that is the compression member, the tension member and the bolster guide columns, are normally generally U-shaped in cross-section with a main web and flanges on either side thereof, said flanges, however, being joined to the main web by diagonally disposed portions extending at approximately 45 with respect to said webs and flanges. The free edges of said flanges are preferably flared away from each other and extend at approximately 45 or parallel with respect to the connecting portions between the web and flanges. By making this 45 bevel at the corners and the 45 angle at the edges, the use of the customary cracking ribs is rendered unnecessary whereby the construction of the frame is facilitated.

The tension member beneath the window opening 5 is approximately horizontal and starts to slope upwardly and outwardly at approximately the junctions with the bolster guide columns. The depth. of the tension member beneath the window opening 5 is greater than that outwardly thereof and in order to smoothly connect that portion of greater width with the inclined end portions, the lower outline of said tension member preferably curves upwardly and outwardly beneath the guide columns, meeting a reverse curve, whereby the depth of said member is smoothly reduced to the normal depth of the inclined end portions. In order to rigidify the free edges of the tension member adjacentthe aperture 14. said edges are preferably beaded or formed with outstanding ribs 20. On account ofthe wider spacing of the flanges or vertical webs 12 of the tension member beneath the spring supporting web 10 and the relatively close spacing of the bolster springs, not shown, and the avoidance of a. continuous bridge between the columns above the spring seating portion, the overhang of llfi lid)

said spring seating web 10 is relatively small and is properly braced with respect to the verti *al webs or flanges 12 by plain triangular gussets or brackets 21, the relatively wide portion of the web 10 between said flanges 12 being amply rigidilied by thearched Webs 19 heretofore described. In order to provide for rigidly connecting the lower ends of the bolster guide columns l and the tension member 3, the lower ends of said columns are flared strongly by curving the outer edges thereof, as indi at-ed at 22, until said edges extend in a substantially horizontal direction, from which they are continued outwardly to merge with the upper edges of the inclined end portions of the tension member, thereby providing.relatively large substantially triangular base portions 23 for the bolster guide colun'ms. On account of said triangular base portions 23 being of normal width transversely, while the tension member therebeneath is laterally widened, the vertical section at these points involves a main tension portion, the upper edges of the flanges of which are provided with inwardly extending webs 2-1 merging into the lower edge of the triangular base portions 23, as most clearly shown in Figure 8. In order to lighten the weight of the frame and facilitate core removal, the inner webs 25, which are flared downwardly from the bolster stop portions 7, are provided with intermediate apertures 26, as illustrated most clearly in Figure 3.

lhe construction at the ends of the frame beyond the junctions between the compression and tension members, involves a converging of the flanges 12 of said members until they form a central web 27, the normal webs of said sections changing to upper and lower flanges 28 and 29, thereby forming an I or H section for the outer end. of the jaw-shaped portion 6 of the frame. The inner end of said jawsl aped portion involves a box-shaped extension 30 depending from the web 13 of the tension member, the inner portion of said tension member at the unction therewith be ing preferably reinforced by triangular gussets 31, shown most clearly in Figure 7. As most clearly shown in Figure 1, the contour of the upper port-ion of the jaw opening at the end of the frame is substantially trapezoidal, that is, it is narrower at the upper portion than at the lower, thereby adapting it to cooperate with the associated journal box in an eflicient manner. Any normal or usual means may be provided for locking the journal boxes with respect to the frame.

Referring to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 9 to 12, inclusive, the end of a side frame 1 is there disclosed with a compression member 2, and a tension member 3 uniting at the ends with each other and with integral journal boxes 32, only one of which is illustrated. As in the previous embodiment, the compression and tension members are preferably of the same general shape in section and the compression member is continued beyond the intersection with the tension men'iber, the depending flanges 12 thereof joining with the roof 33 of the journal box 32. The web 13 of the compression mei'nber is preferably discontinued short of the flanges 12, the ends of said flanges being curved so that they gradually merge with the roof 33 of the box adjacent the outer edge thereof. l. he connection between the flanges 12 and the roof 33 of the box is additionally reinforced by transverse webbing 34c preferably lying along the transverse center line of the box.

In. order to further strengthen the connection between the/box and the frame members, the central portion 35 of the tension member web is preferably curved downwardly to meet the inner side wall of the box substantially midway between the roof and bottom thereof, as indicated at 36. Said inner portion or strip 35 of the web of the tension member preferably corresponds in width with the inner brass lug 37 and may join the side wall of the box adjacent the lower end of said lug, and the sides of said strip are preferably connected to the adjacent sides of the remainder of the web of the tension member by slightly diverging upwardly extending webs 35 forming in effect continuations of the longitudinally extending walls of the inner brass lug 37. in order to compensate for the loss of the strip 35, the web of the tension member is preferably thickened, as indicated at 38, and may likewise be widened gradually to where it merges with the roof 33 of the box. On account of the increase in width of the side portions of the web of the tension member, the flanges 12 or side portions of the compression and tension members adjacent the junction therebetween, are caused to diverge slightly downwardly, as shown most clearly in Figure 11, thereby providing a section substantially trapezoidal in shape. On account of increasing the width of the side portions 38 of the tension member web, the necessity for the customary external laterally extending gussets is eliminated, said portions 38, however, at their junctions with the journal box, being preferablyslightly filleted, as indicated at 39. Except as specifically described, the side frame of the present embodiment may correspond to that of the first embodiment.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that I have devised an improved side frame which may be used with or without integral journal boxes, and in which the bolster guide columns are provided with bolster limit stops which, while serving to protect the bolster springs and limit downward movement of the bolster, do not cover up spring seating space on the spring supporting portion of the tension member. Because of this construction the spring seating portion of the tension member may be made narrower for the same spring capacity, thereby making it possible to decrease the overhang of the spring plank seat portion beyond that portion of the tension member there beneath, whereby the supporting bracket structure may be simplified. The length of the opening in the slit bottom of the tension member has been increased with a consequent saving in weight, while at the same time the transverse strength of said member has been increased by the wider spacing of the side portions thereof adjacentthe bolster opening. The basic cross-section ofthe frame has been changed to provide a 45 bevel at the corners and a 45 flare at the edges, whereby cracking ribs are made unnecessary. The interior elliptic ribs above the journal box formerly employed with a jaw type frame have been omitted well as the exterior pockets on the top corners of the compression members at the junction with these ribs, thereby simplifying the manufacture of the frame.

By removing the usual bracket ribs requiring an external core between the tension member and the integral journal box and sub stituting an internal core, there is obtained an externally smooth hollow reinforcement of the same general contour as at present employed but without the usual manufacturing difliculties. By increasing the aggregate width of the tension member at the junction with the box, a combined trapezoidal section at such junction is secured with a resulting increase in strength on account of the increase in effective width. On account of the increase in width and depth of the tension member beneath the window opening and the increase in width of the tension member where it merges into the integral journal box and the corresponding increase in depth where it merges into the compression member, said tension member is preferably of minimum cross-section at approximately the point of contra-flexure or about midway between the junction with the compression member and the adjacent bolster guide column. Such a construction involves an economy of material. as will be understood.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim is:

l. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, struts interposed ihercbetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening, and stop portions extending toward each other from intermediate portions of said struts and comprising horizontal flanges serving as emergency supports for the bolster, Si.l(l flanges being reinforced with respect to the struts by webs depending therebeneath and tapering to merge into said struts.

2. A. side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, holster guide columns positioned therebetween and spaced to leave a window opening, said Window opening comprising an upper portion adapted to receive an associated bolster and a lower portion for receiving an associated spring plank, said upper and lower portions being partially separated by projections from the guide col umns overlying the opening for receiving the spring plank and adapted to limit downward movementof the bolster.

3. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, bolster guide columns positioned therebetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening, the intermediate portions of said guide columns being formed with inwardly extending substantially horizontal flanges braced with respect to said columns by depending webs therebetween, the inner edges of said flanges being spaced to facilitate application of the bolster springs yet close enough together to serve as limiting stops for the bolster.

4. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, and struts interposed therebetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening, all of said members being U-shaped in cross section with the flanges of the section joined to the web by diagonal portions, the free edges of said flanges being flared diagonally, said struts being provided with relatively short inwardly extending abutments intermediate said compression and tension members to form limit stops for the associated bolster.

5. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, and struts interposed therebetween and spaced to leave a bol ster opening, said tension member being formed with a laterally widened upper web beneath the bolster opening for supporting a nest of springs of increasing width, the ten sion member as a whole gradually increasing in width from the ends thereof toward that portion beneath the bolster opening, said tension member at the ends being generally channel-shaped in cross-section with the bottom web thereof slit approximately midway between the intersection of the compression and tension members and the adjacent bolster guide column and continued beneath the bolster opening with a relatively great separation between the parts of said web for providing increased transverse strength thereof.

6. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, and bolster guide columns interposed therebetwcen and spaced to leave a window opening, said tension member beneath the window opening being formed with an upper web laterally widened for supporting a nest of springs of increased width, said tension members adjacent the ends thereof being generally channel-shaped in cross-section, increasing in width toward the center thereof and divided into two spaced sections angular in cross-section where it passes beneath the.v supporting web, said web formed of increasing width from near the ends thereoftoward that portion beneath the window opening, said tension member being generally fill-shaped in cross-section with a lower web and upstanding flanges on either side thereonjsaid lower web being bifurcated between'the intersectionwith the compression ,memberand'th adjacent bolster guide coltension member continues as two angularmembers beneath the spring supporting portion thereof, said members having their lower 'edgesjoined approximately midway beneath the spring supporting portion byzarelatively wide laterally extending tie member. j j

8. A sidei'fr ame comprising a compression member, a tension member, and struts interposed therebetweenandspaced to leave a bolster opening, said tension member being provided withfalaterally widened upper web be neath the, bolster openin for supporting a nest'of bolster springs, t e tension member comprisinga pair of flanges extending longitudinally-beneath the laterally widened upper web andlinor'e widely spaced than the normal widtlno'f the tension member, said upper web beneath the bolster opening being strengthened'by. transverse ribs connecting said flanges and archedjalong their lower edges' 9.- In, a Side frame comprising a compression" member,.-a tension member, and struts interposed therebetween and spaced toleave a --bolster.opening, said compression member comprising an upper web and depending flanges on either side thereof, said upper web sloping downwardly and outwardly and rib formed by depressing an intermediate portion of a web of the tension member andconnecting said depressed portion to the remainder of said web by side walls approximately alined with the longitudinally extending walls of the inner brass lug of the journal box.

11. A side frame com rising a compression member, a tension mem er, struts interposed therebetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening, and a journal box integrally connected to said frame at each end thereof, said tension member being generally U-shaped in cross-section with a lower web and upstanding flanges on either side thereof, said lower Web having a central strip thereof curved downwardly and outwardly to meet the inner wall of the adjacent journal box at approximately the bottom ofthe brass lug thereof, said portion being joined with the remainder of the web by side walls spaced. to correspond with the width of said lug, the web of said tension member on either side of said strip being increased slightly in width and continued to join with the roof of the journal box.

12. A sideframe comprising a compression member, a tension member, struts interposed therebetween and spaced to lea e a bolster opeping, and an integral journal box at each end of said frame, the connection between the journal box and frame being reinforced by a hollow triangular gusset" formed by depressing the intermediate portion of the tension member web to merge with an intermediate portion of the inner side wall of the box, the remainder of said web being widened to compensate for the loss of said intermediate portion, said tension member being provided with flanges extending upwardly from said web and the compression member being formed with an upper web and depending flanges, said fianges of the compression and tension members merging adjacent the junctions therebetween and with the journal boxes, said flanges on account of the increased width of the tension member web adjacent the journal boxes extending upwardly and inwardly adj acurved smoothly adj acent the ends thereof tocent said journal boxes to form sections subartially' embrace the. associated journal oxes, the tension member being generally U-shapedin cross section with a lower we and upstanding flanges on either side thereof,

,said lower web beingprovided with an outstanding hollow lug serving to engage the associated journal box, the junction with said lug and web being reinforced by internal substantially triangular gussets. I

10. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, struts interposed therebetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening, and an integral journal'box at each end of said frame adjacent the junctions between said com ression and tension members, the connection etween said frameand journal boxes being reinforced by a hollow bracket stantially trapezoidal in shape.

' 13. A side frame comprising a compression member,' a tension member, and struts interposed therebetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening, said tension member being.

depth and width outwardly from said point whereby the minimum section thereof corresponds approximately with the point of contra-flexure. I

i member being correspondingly increased in i .325 nal boxes being reinforced by hollow brackets formed by depressing intermediate por- 14:. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member andstruts interposed therebetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening, said struts being provided with relatively short inwardly extending abutments intermediate said compression and I tension members to form stops for the associated bolster.

15. A side frame comprising a compression I member, a tension member, struts interposed therebetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening and an integral journal box at each end of said frame adj acent the junctions between s'aid compression and tension members, the connections between said frame and j ourthereb'etween and spaced to leave a bolster.

opening, and a journal box integrally connected to said frame at each endthe'reof,

said tension member being formed with a web and an upstanding fiangeat either side thereof, said web having a strip narrower than the" width thereof along the longitudiflared outwardly and continued to join with the roof of the journal box.

17. A side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member, struts interposedtherebetween and spaced to leave a bolster opening, and an integral journal box at each end of said frame, the connection between each journal box and the frame being reinforced by a hollow triangular gusset formed by depressing a relatively narrow intermediate portion of the tension member web to merge with an intermediate portion of an inner side wall of the box, the remainder of said web being widened to compensate for the loss of said intermediate portion, said tension member being provided with flanges extending upwardly from said web and the compression member being formed with an upper web and depending flanges, said compression member and tension member flanges merging adj acent the junctions therebetween and with the journal boxes.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

